128: Strange Events in the Underworld

Western Regions, Netherworld Cult Headquarters.

Deep within a valley shrouded in black mist, a palace built of white bones exuded an eerie and sinister aura. Netherworld Old Freak sat atop the bone throne, his withered fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. Below the throne, the envoy sent by Prince Jing was bowing and reporting.

"...Jun Xiaoyao, that brat, relies on the power of Beyond Heaven to annex the Southern Frontier, and now he covets the Central Plains. If the Cult Master can make a move to eliminate him, His Highness Prince Jing is willing to gift three cities, plus ten thousand-year snow lotus, to assist the Cult Master in attempting a Breakthrough to the Void Shattering Realm." The envoy spoke earnestly, though a hint of imperceptible calculation hid in his eyes.

Netherworld Old Freak let out a hoarse laugh, like scraping a broken gong: "Jun Xiaoyao? The Prince of Zhenbei? An interesting little fellow indeed. However, what this Cult Master wants is more than just three cities and snow lotus."

The envoy felt a chill in his heart and quickly said: "Whatever the Cult Master desires, His Highness Prince Jing will not refuse."

"The 'netherworld ore vein' in the Central Plains was taken away by the imperial court back then. Now, it should be returned to its original owner." Netherworld Old Freak's eyes flashed with a ghostly light. "Tell Zhao Ye, this Cult Master will go meet Jun Xiaoyao in person, but if the matter succeeds, the netherworld ore vein must be returned to the Netherworld Cult."

The envoy quickly agreed: "This subordinate will definitely convey this to His Highness Prince Jing!"

After the envoy left, Netherworld Old Freak slowly stood up, black mist churning around his body: "Yingnu, accompany me on a trip to the Central Plains. This Cult Master wants to see just how much weight this Beyond Heaven really carries."

In the shadows, a figure wearing a black cloak knelt silently on one knee. It was Yingnu, the number one assassin of the Netherworld Cult, whose strength had reached the Early Earthly Immortal Realm.

Beyond Heaven Headquarters, Luowang Assassins camp.

A scout stumbled in, holding a secret letter: "Report! Urgent report from the Western Regions! Netherworld Old Freak has left the headquarters, taking Yingnu with him, and is heading towards the Central Plains!"

Zhao Gao unfolded the secret letter, his pupils shrinking—the letter was marked with two strange runes, the highest-level warning issued by the death soldiers planted by The Net in the Netherworld Cult. He dared not delay and immediately rushed to Jun Xiaoyao's study.

Inside the study, Jun Xiaoyao was reviewing the list of resources sent from the Southern Frontier. Hearing Zhao Gao's report, he only lifted his eyes faintly: "Netherworld Old Freak? Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm?"

"Yes, Young Lord." Zhao Gao bowed. "This person Cultivates the 'Netherworld Soul-Devouring Technique'. The Cultivation Technique is sinister and poisonous, capable of absorbing others' Internal Energy, and his methods are ruthless. His subordinate, Yingnu, is skilled in concealment and assassination, and his strength cannot be underestimated. According to the scout's report, their goal for this trip is clear, pointing directly to the Central Plains. I fear..."

"I fear he is coming for me." Jun Xiaoyao closed the list and tapped his fingertips on the desk. "Prince Jing is truly willing to pay the price to actually move this malevolent god."

"Young Lord, do we need to let the Marshal of the Unruly or Lord Dark Blade..."

"No need." Jun Xiaoyao interrupted him. "The Net has raised so many assassins; it is time for them to see some blood." He looked at Zhao Gao, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Pass my order, command all 'Heaven' grade assassins to set out and set an ambush at 'Soul Severing Cliff' on the border between the Western Regions and the Central Plains. Remember, I want to see them alive if they are alive, or their corpses if they are dead."

"Yes! Young Lord!" Zhao Gao received the order. When he turned, a glimmer of excitement flashed in his eyes—since The Net was founded, although they had executed countless assassination missions, they had never clashed head-on with a top-tier force like the Netherworld Cult. This was a perfect opportunity to establish prestige.

Three days later, Soul Severing Cliff.

Violent winds swept gravel across the steep cliffs, and below the cliff was a bottomless sea of clouds. The "Heaven" grade assassins of The Net had already laid a net here—led by the Heaven Grade No. 1 assassin "Startled Nymph", with strength at the Peak Grandmaster Realm, the long sword in her hand shimmering with a cold, ghostly blue light; Heaven Grade No. 2 "Masking Sun", skilled in using the saber, with ruthless saber techniques; Heaven Grade No. 3 "Mysterious Water", proficient in water-element Cultivation Techniques, capable of controlling clouds and mist to conceal his figure.

The three led thirty Earth-grade assassins, lurking in the hidden parts of the cliff, eyes fixed on the only plank road leading to the Central Plains.

"Mysterious Water, have you confirmed the target's position?" Startled Nymph asked in a low voice.

Mysterious Water closed his eyes to sense for a moment, then nodded: "Thirty miles away, moving very fast, expected to arrive in half an hour."

"Very good." Startled Nymph tightened her grip on her long sword. "Follow the plan. Mysterious Water is responsible for using the cloud and mist formation to trap them, Masking Sun will flank from the left, and I will break through from the front. Remember, leave Netherworld Old Freak to me, and Yingnu to you all. At any cost, do not let them step half a step into the Central Plains!"

"Understood!"

Half an hour later, two figures appeared at the end of the plank road. Walking in front was Netherworld Old Freak, his withered body wrapped in a black robe, black mist appearing and disappearing around him; following behind was Yingnu, like a lifeless Puppet, his footsteps light and silent.

"Hmph, a bunch of little rats, daring to block this Cult Master's path?" Netherworld Old Freak had not yet stepped onto Soul Severing Cliff when he stopped, his hoarse voice echoing through the cliff.

Startled Nymph and the others emerged from their hiding places, and thirty Earth-grade assassins poured out simultaneously, blocking both ends of the plank road.

"Netherworld Old Freak, this road is blocked!" Startled Nymph pointed her long sword directly at the opponent. "Surrender, and you might keep your corpse intact!"

Netherworld Old Freak let out a wild laugh: "Just by relying on you lot? You think you are worthy of blocking this Cult Master? Yingnu, teach them a lesson!"

Yingnu's figure flashed, rushing towards Startled Nymph like a ghost, the short blade in his hand carrying thick Death Qi, thrusting directly at her heart. Startled Nymph was prepared; her long sword spun into a flower, blocking the short blade while she tapped her feet and retreated backward.

"Masking Sun, act!"

Masking Sun's long saber carried the sound of breaking the air, slashing towards Yingnu's back from the left. Yingnu reacted extremely quickly, swinging the short blade back to block the long saber. In the instant he blocked it, his figure turned strangely in the air, avoiding the encirclement of the Earth-grade assassins.

"Courting death!" Seeing Yingnu entangled, Netherworld Old Freak's eyes filled with black mist. He pushed out both palms, and two strands of thick black energy shot towards Startled Nymph like poisonous snakes. Wherever the black energy passed, the rocks on the plank road were instantly corroded, emitting bursts of white smoke.

"Mysterious Water!" Startled Nymph shouted.

Mysterious Water formed seals with his hands, and the clouds and mist around the plank road instantly condensed, forming a water curtain. The black energy collided with the water curtain, making a sizzling sound, but was blocked firmly.

"Interesting." A hint of surprise flashed in Netherworld Old Freak's eyes, then he sneered, "But this little trick is not enough!" He opened his arms, black mist churning around his body, and countless phantoms of wronged souls emerged from the black mist, emitting shrill screams.

"Netherworld Soul-Devouring!"

The phantoms of the wronged souls surged towards the Luowang Assassins like a tide. Any assassin touched by the wronged souls turned pale, their Internal Energy draining rapidly, and they let out painful wails.

"Not good! It's the 'Netherworld Soul-Devouring Technique'!" Startled Nymph's expression changed drastically. "Everyone, circulate your Internal Energy and guard your minds!"

However, the strength of the Earth-grade assassins was mostly at the Grandmaster to Grandmaster Realm. Facing Netherworld Old Freak, who was at the Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm, they could hardly resist. In the blink of an eye, five assassins had been devoured by the wronged souls and turned into mummies.

"Mysterious Water, use 'Ice Sealing a Thousand Miles'!" Startled Nymph gritted her teeth, disregarding the consumption of her Internal Energy, and cold Qi condensed on her long sword. "Masking Sun, finish this quickly!"

Mysterious Water slammed his hands onto the ground, and thick ice instantly condensed on the plank road. The cold Qi spread along the ice surface, actually freezing some of the wronged soul phantoms temporarily. Masking Sun seized the opportunity, his long saber expanding by several feet, and the Saber Qi slashed towards Yingnu like a crescent moon. Hindered by the cold Qi, Yingnu could not dodge in time, and a cut was opened on his shoulder by the Saber Qi. Black blood splashed onto the ice, making a sizzling sound.

"Courting death!" A murderous intent flashed in Yingnu's eyes, and the Death Qi on his short blade thickened, forcing Masking Sun to retreat repeatedly.

Just then, Netherworld Old Freak's black mist suddenly surged, breaking through Mysterious Water's ice-sealing power: "Little tricks, it's over!" His figure flashed, appearing in front of Startled Nymph, his withered palm carrying thick black energy, grabbing towards Startled Nymph's head.

A flash of resolve crossed Startled Nymph's eyes as she poured all her power into her long sword: "Luowang Secret Order, kill!"

The long sword let out a hum, erupting with power exceeding the Grandmaster Realm, colliding with Netherworld Old Freak's palm.

"Pfft!" Startled Nymph spat out blood and was sent flying, her long sword flying out of her hand.

Netherworld Old Freak sneered and was about to deliver the killing blow, but suddenly his expression changed as he looked behind the plank road—there, a black and white intertwined Sword Qi shot over like a shooting star, moving at an incredible speed.

"Dark Blade?!" Netherworld Old Freak recognized the owner of this Sword Qi and dared not be careless, hurriedly turning back to defend.

"Clang!" The Sword Qi collided with the black energy, erupting with a powerful shockwave. Dark Blade's figure emerged from the clouds, black and white twin swords in hand, his eyes cold as frost.

"You are not a 'Heaven' grade assassin?" Netherworld Old Freak was both shocked and angry; he did not expect Beyond Heaven to send an expert like Dark Blade.

"The one who will kill you." Dark Blade's tone was cold. He swung both swords simultaneously, and the black and white Sword Qi intertwined into a giant net, covering Netherworld Old Freak.

Startled Nymph took the opportunity to gather the remaining assassins and set up defenses again. Masking Sun also stabilized his position and engaged in a fierce battle with Yingnu again.

Netherworld Old Freak was forced to retreat repeatedly by Dark Blade's Sword Qi, feeling secretly shocked—Dark Blade's strength was infinitely close to the Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm, and his sword technique contained a righteousness that restrained evil techniques, making it difficult for his "Netherworld Soul-Devouring Technique" to be deployed.

"Yingnu, let's go!" Netherworld Old Freak knew that he could not gain any advantage today, so he made a decisive decision. The black mist surged, blocking Dark Blade's sight, and he grabbed Yingnu, who was already staggering, and fled towards the Western Regions.

"Want to leave?" Dark Blade snorted coldly, his twin swords joined, and a huge Sword Qi slashed towards the black mist. However, after the Sword Qi slashed into the black mist, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, and the figures of Netherworld Old Freak and Yingnu had disappeared into the sea of clouds.

Dark Blade did not pursue—the terrain of Soul Severing Cliff was complex, and rash pursuit might lead to a backlash. He looked at Startled Nymph and the others and said in a deep voice: "Count the casualties."

Startled Nymph struggled to get up, a look of shame on her face: "Reporting to Lord Dark Blade, twelve died in battle, eight seriously injured... Failed to keep the target, please punish me!"

Dark Blade shook his head: "Netherworld Old Freak's strength far exceeded expectations. You have completed the interception mission; forcing them back is enough. Compensate the brothers who were injured or killed according to the highest standards of The Net." He looked in the direction where Netherworld Old Freak had fled, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes, "This matter must be reported to the Young Lord immediately."

Beyond Heaven Headquarters, Study.

Dark Blade finished reporting the process of the battle at Soul Severing Cliff. Jun Xiaoyao rubbed his teacup with his fingertips, and after a moment of silence, he said: "Since Netherworld Old Freak dared to retreat, it means he already has fear of Beyond Heaven. But this person is vindictive and will never give up."

"Young Lord, do you need your subordinate to take people to the Western Regions and completely eradicate the Netherworld Cult?" Dark Blade asked.

Jun Xiaoyao shook his head: "No need. The terrain in the Western Regions is complex, and the Netherworld Cult has been operating there for many years. Forcing an attack will only increase casualties." He looked at Zhao Gao: "Order The Net to increase the infiltration of the Netherworld Cult, especially the news about the netherworld ore vein. Also, send a 'gift' to Prince Jing, telling him that Netherworld Old Freak has been repelled by my Beyond Heaven, and tell him to behave himself."

A glimmer of understanding flashed in Zhao Gao's eyes: "Does the Young Lord want Prince Jing and Netherworld Old Freak to be suspicious of each other?"

"Dogs biting dogs is the most interesting." Jun Xiaoyao hooked his lips into a faint smile. "As for Netherworld Old Freak... since he dared to come, he will pay the price sooner or later. We just need to wait patiently; there will always be a day to close The Net."

Outside the window, the moonlight spilled down, reflecting the silhouette of the headquarters. Although the interception at Soul Severing Cliff did not successfully kill the target, it sent a clear signal to Jianghu—the edge of the Beyond Heaven's The Net was enough to deter one side. And in the dark, the collusion between Prince Jing and Netherworld Old Freak, and the battle between Jun Xiaoyao and them, had just begun.